Benny_Gulakiw
05-09-2003, 10:39 AM
Contact: Benny Gulakiw
716.741.1276 or 716.491.2656
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: May 7, 2003
INLINE HOCKEY AMERICA-ELITE NAMES FIRST TWO MEMBER TEAMS
Buffalo Wings and Chicago Bulldogs Set to Play This Summer
Inline Hockey America (IHA), a full-service roller hockey consulting, promotions, marketing, and development organization based in Buffalo, New York, is pleased to announce it?s first two members in the IHA-Elite league set to begin play this summer (2003). The Chicago Bulldogs will join the Buffalo Wings as founding members of North America?s newest elite roller hockey league. IHA-Elite is a semi-pro roller hockey league that will operate during the summer months, with teams initially based in and around the Great Lakes region. There are currently no leagues in this area providing opportunities for players to compete at the highest level in a traditional geographic league format.
The Buffalo Wings and the Chicago Bulldogs are the first teams to be officially accepted into the league. Any team interested in participating in IHA-Elite must submit an application, which is then reviewed by the league office for approval. Teams are required to meet strict standards in regards to their proposed home facility and their commitment to market and operate their team at the highest level possible.
By submitting an application, teams agree to operate within the guidelines set forth by the league. Their membership in IHA-Elite is for one year. At the end of each season, every member organization is reviewed to insure that they are working effectively to achieve the long-term goals of the league.
Benny Gulakiw, President of Inline Hockey America, describes what some of those goals are, ?Professional roller hockey peaked in the mid-1990?s with a national television contract, national sponsors and players being paid a reasonable salary. It is my hope that IHA-Elite becomes the foundation for a new league that will surpass the success of any previous professional roller hockey league.? Gulakiw continues, ?I believe this can be done by setting guidelines for our member teams, providing them with the necessary tools to operate within those guidelines and holding them accountable if they don?t.?
The Buffalo Wings, a former member of Major League Roller Hockey (MLRH-1998) and Roller Hockey International (RHI-1997/1999), has been looking for a viable league to play in since RHI ceased operations at the end of the 1999 season. Gulakiw, who was the Wings Vice President of Operations and Head Coach of their pro team when the last pro league folded, had been working on finding a league for them to play in since then. When Gulakiw left the Wings in October of 2002 to start Inline Hockey America, his former team was first in line to join the new elite league.
While waiting for a new league to appear, the Wings have been keeping busy developing their travel team program. With numerous championships and gold medals on their shelf, many of the Wings players are looking forward to a new challenge. Eric Haak, the Buffalo Wings President of Hockey Operations comments, ?Playing in tournaments has been great, but our players want to compete on a different level. Representing your hometown, playing against some of the best teams in the country before cheering crowds is something you can only get from being in a league like IHA.?
The Chicago Bulldogs was the first organization to actually submit an application to play in IHA-Elite for the inaugural season. The Bulldogs are also very familiar with the elite tournament series circuit, but were looking for a new challenge when they heard about IHA. ?The Chicago Bulldogs are excited about not only participating in the inaugural IHA season, but also honored in being selected as pioneers in what we know will be a successful and competitive league,? says Alex Martinez, President of the Chicago Inline Hockey Club.
Martinez goes on to say, ?Our organizational process from the beginning was to at least continue to move up the competition ladder and play in tougher leagues and venues. Our club has changed dramatically in the past 2 years and we believe that right now we are in the right place at the right time in the right part of the country where IHA is being organized. I know that in order to continue our team success we need to be involved and compete in the Elite Level that only IHA can provide. Our organization, the Chicago Bulldogs, and City of Chicago is again excited and ready to play!?
Benny Gulakiw comments on the Chicago application, ?The Bulldogs have met or exceeded every standard we have in place for new teams to join the league. Their home facility, the St. Charles Sportsplex is an excellent facility. They are way ahead in terms of marketing their club and their enthusiasm and professionalism has made me very confident in the success of this league. The Chicago Bulldogs are a model franchise before the league has even gotten started.?
Inline Hockey America-Elite will launch this summer with a minimum of 4 teams in what will be billed as the league?s ?Showcase Season.? Currently, 6 additional teams representing major markets throughout the Great Lakes region are either in the process of submitting an application or having their application reviewed by the league. The deadline to submit an application for teams wishing to play in the 2003 season is Monday, June 2. The 2003 season is tentatively scheduled to begin play at the end of June and will run through the middle of September. Subsequent seasons will begin in May and run through the end of August.
Additional members of IHA-Elite will be announced in the coming days and weeks. For more information on Inline Hockey America or it?s member teams, visit IHA?s web site at www.inlinehockeyamerica.com or call the league?s office at (716) 741-1276 or (716) 491-2656.
Benny Gulakiw
President
Inline Hockey America
716.741.1276 or 716.491.2656
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: May 7, 2003
INLINE HOCKEY AMERICA-ELITE NAMES FIRST TWO MEMBER TEAMS
Buffalo Wings and Chicago Bulldogs Set to Play This Summer
Inline Hockey America (IHA), a full-service roller hockey consulting, promotions, marketing, and development organization based in Buffalo, New York, is pleased to announce it?s first two members in the IHA-Elite league set to begin play this summer (2003). The Chicago Bulldogs will join the Buffalo Wings as founding members of North America?s newest elite roller hockey league. IHA-Elite is a semi-pro roller hockey league that will operate during the summer months, with teams initially based in and around the Great Lakes region. There are currently no leagues in this area providing opportunities for players to compete at the highest level in a traditional geographic league format.
The Buffalo Wings and the Chicago Bulldogs are the first teams to be officially accepted into the league. Any team interested in participating in IHA-Elite must submit an application, which is then reviewed by the league office for approval. Teams are required to meet strict standards in regards to their proposed home facility and their commitment to market and operate their team at the highest level possible.
By submitting an application, teams agree to operate within the guidelines set forth by the league. Their membership in IHA-Elite is for one year. At the end of each season, every member organization is reviewed to insure that they are working effectively to achieve the long-term goals of the league.
Benny Gulakiw, President of Inline Hockey America, describes what some of those goals are, ?Professional roller hockey peaked in the mid-1990?s with a national television contract, national sponsors and players being paid a reasonable salary. It is my hope that IHA-Elite becomes the foundation for a new league that will surpass the success of any previous professional roller hockey league.? Gulakiw continues, ?I believe this can be done by setting guidelines for our member teams, providing them with the necessary tools to operate within those guidelines and holding them accountable if they don?t.?
The Buffalo Wings, a former member of Major League Roller Hockey (MLRH-1998) and Roller Hockey International (RHI-1997/1999), has been looking for a viable league to play in since RHI ceased operations at the end of the 1999 season. Gulakiw, who was the Wings Vice President of Operations and Head Coach of their pro team when the last pro league folded, had been working on finding a league for them to play in since then. When Gulakiw left the Wings in October of 2002 to start Inline Hockey America, his former team was first in line to join the new elite league.
While waiting for a new league to appear, the Wings have been keeping busy developing their travel team program. With numerous championships and gold medals on their shelf, many of the Wings players are looking forward to a new challenge. Eric Haak, the Buffalo Wings President of Hockey Operations comments, ?Playing in tournaments has been great, but our players want to compete on a different level. Representing your hometown, playing against some of the best teams in the country before cheering crowds is something you can only get from being in a league like IHA.?
The Chicago Bulldogs was the first organization to actually submit an application to play in IHA-Elite for the inaugural season. The Bulldogs are also very familiar with the elite tournament series circuit, but were looking for a new challenge when they heard about IHA. ?The Chicago Bulldogs are excited about not only participating in the inaugural IHA season, but also honored in being selected as pioneers in what we know will be a successful and competitive league,? says Alex Martinez, President of the Chicago Inline Hockey Club.
Martinez goes on to say, ?Our organizational process from the beginning was to at least continue to move up the competition ladder and play in tougher leagues and venues. Our club has changed dramatically in the past 2 years and we believe that right now we are in the right place at the right time in the right part of the country where IHA is being organized. I know that in order to continue our team success we need to be involved and compete in the Elite Level that only IHA can provide. Our organization, the Chicago Bulldogs, and City of Chicago is again excited and ready to play!?
Benny Gulakiw comments on the Chicago application, ?The Bulldogs have met or exceeded every standard we have in place for new teams to join the league. Their home facility, the St. Charles Sportsplex is an excellent facility. They are way ahead in terms of marketing their club and their enthusiasm and professionalism has made me very confident in the success of this league. The Chicago Bulldogs are a model franchise before the league has even gotten started.?
Inline Hockey America-Elite will launch this summer with a minimum of 4 teams in what will be billed as the league?s ?Showcase Season.? Currently, 6 additional teams representing major markets throughout the Great Lakes region are either in the process of submitting an application or having their application reviewed by the league. The deadline to submit an application for teams wishing to play in the 2003 season is Monday, June 2. The 2003 season is tentatively scheduled to begin play at the end of June and will run through the middle of September. Subsequent seasons will begin in May and run through the end of August.
Additional members of IHA-Elite will be announced in the coming days and weeks. For more information on Inline Hockey America or it?s member teams, visit IHA?s web site at www.inlinehockeyamerica.com or call the league?s office at (716) 741-1276 or (716) 491-2656.
Benny Gulakiw
President
Inline Hockey America